However, the school district managed to attract a top-flight candidate to the part-time business manager post, according to Superintendent Ann Marie Dargon.

The district announced last week that Praveen Singhal will join the Westport Community Schools as its new business manager. The move comes during an opportune time for the district, which was forced to narrow a budget gap that once exceeded $815,000, before the coming school year.

Singhal earned his Advanced Business Manager certification through the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials. He is also working on a doctorate in education through American International College, according to a written release from the district.

He earned a master's degree in science from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, majoring in computer engineering, and a bachelor's degree in science from the Technological Institute of Textiles and Sciences in India, majoring in technology, according to the release.

Singhal worked as the assistant school business manager at the Learning Communities Charter School in Central Falls, Rhode Island, and before that was a teacher and Instructional Performance Specialist in the New Bedford and Fall River public schools.

“Singhal believes ‘in a customer-service-oriented, efficient and inclusive business office that will protect the integrity of high-quality teaching and learning in every class, every school, every day,’” Dargon wrote in a written release.

On Monday, she said the district was lucky to hire Singhal for a part-time position. In him, she said, the district was able to find someone who participates in other duties and was looking only for a part-time role.

“Mr. Singhal is in a position where he is able to pursue other things as well,” Dargon said.

Previously, former Falmouth Superintendent Marc Dupuis, a retiree, was working as the business manager on a per diem basis. He joined the district last November and stepped down in June.